Scientific Manager in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science

Scientific Manager in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is seeking a Scientific Manager with a background in biodiversity, landscape ecology, environmental- or ecosystem sciences, or a related academic discipline to support activities within monitoring and modelling of biodiversity and ecosystem health.

The Biotech department leads the development and management of strategic initiatives that supports activities enabling food systems transformation and scaling of climate change mitigation technologies with an overall ambition of improving environmental sustainability and land-use within planetary boundaries.

We are currently 18 highly qualified and passionate colleagues working in teams. As Scientific Manager you will join the Agriculture team and report to the team leader. We value creativity, curiosity, common inspiration, teamwork and innovative thinking, while maintaining a relaxed and collegial atmosphere. We strive for high quality in our work and give each other feedback in a trust-based working environment.

The job

As Scientific Manager you will, together with colleagues and in close dialog with key stakeholders from academia, industry, and public- and private institutions, identify, evaluate and develop research projects or programmes to be granted by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The focus areas are biodiversity, ecosystem health, and environmental sustainability, as part of land-use change projects, such as forestation and wetland restoration, including projects related to Green Tripartite (Grøn Trepart).

You will build and manage a portfolio of projects, funding calls, and grants that you will be responsible for, and when implemented you will support the grant holders during the entire lifetime of the project to ensure high quality outputs and maximal impact.

You will also support and provide expertise to adjacent areas within Biotech and the Novo Nordisk Foundation more broadly e.g. related to implementation of the Green Tripartite, development of ecosystem service markets and/or advanced technology developments potentially including data science and modelling.

Your tasks will include to:

• Develop strategic science-driven initiatives related to biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem science, and land-use change, incl. identification of gaps and opportunities, development of call text material and guidelines to applicants, and management of peer review processes.
• Manage projects, including day-to-day operations and implementation of initiatives.
• Manage and interact with internal and external stakeholders from academia, industry, government, international research institutions, and NGO’s regarding development of projects.
• Maintain a high level of domain knowledge within biodiversity, ecosystem science, monitoring technologies and related areas of relevance.
• Prepare and write internal presentations and/or documents, including recommendations to the Novo Nordisk Foundation Project Portfolio Board and Board of Directors.
• Establish partnerships, build networks, and support communities within nature restoration research and the innovation ecosystem with a special focus on biodiversity.
• Support open competition programmes across the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Your primary workplace is onsite at the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s offices in Hellerup, Denmark. Remote working conditions can be agreed upon with the team lead. The Novo Nordisk Foundation is increasing its global presence and thus travel should be expected (10-15 travel days/year) as well as occasional meetings outside normal work hours, due to global partners in different time-zones.

Professional Qualifications

To be a good fit for this job, you must thrive working with project management activities across projects and organisations in collaboration with colleagues and external stakeholders.

We envisage that you hold a PhD degree within biodiversity, ecosystem science, or another academic discipline of relevance to nature restoration and/or adjacent fields. You have a PhD age of minimum 4 years and relevant work experience in academia, industry, and/or private or public institutions. Ideally you have experience with bridging the gap from scientific discovery towards implementation e.g. via partnerships with public or private partners.

Furthermore, you ideally possess most of the below qualifications:

• Strong insights into technical and scientific aspects relevant for ecosystem science, e.g. related to monitoring technologies, functional biodiversity, and modelling of biological systems.
• Proficient project management skills and ability to manage several projects simultaneously.
• Experience with working in different environments and constellations, e.g., across sectors, disciplines, and societal actors. International experience is an advantage.
• Understanding of the Danish Green Tripartite, and the national community related to nature restoration, including the research and innovation ecosystem, and public/private actors.
• Ability to create relationship and networks with a multitude of stakeholders nationally and globally.
• Familiarity with scientific and societal issues pertinent to nature restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem service markets.
• Global network within academia, industry, or public- and private organisations of relevance to ecosystem science, biodiversity research, or nature restoration.

Personal Qualifications

We are looking for a Scientific Manager with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain good relations and partnerships. The candidate must be a team-player and enjoy teamwork while also being comfortable working independently and making decisions on issues related to administration of grants and project management. Beyond this, we are looking for a Scientific Manager who is:

• Professional and quality conscious.
• Proactive and curiosity-driven with an innovative mindset.
• Goal-oriented and capable of meeting deadlines.

Work at the Novo Nordisk Foundation

We offer a committed and professional workplace in which we emphasize ensuring that our colleagues thrive, are challenged, and have opportunity to develop their potential. A career at the Novo Nordisk Foundation gives you the opportunity to work: 

• on important projects that improves people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet.  
• with key actors within research and development in Denmark and internationally.

and as part of a dedicated team that is passionate about creating impact.

Application and Information

For more information, please contact Senior Scientific Lead, Agriculture, Thomas de Bang on email [email protected]. We encourage you to upload your application as soon as possible and no later than 30 January 2025. Interviews will be held ultimo February/ primo March and expected start date is 1 May 2025.

To apply, please upload your CV, cover letter, and University transcripts by clicking on the “Apply” button.

About the Novo Nordisk Foundation

Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.

In the coming years, the Foundation will broaden its scope and increase its grants for scientific, humanitarian, and social purposes, including solving the climate crisis and developing tomorrow’s food production. As a consequence, we are a growing organisation, which means new job openings and exciting opportunities for employees to be part of forming the future of the Foundation.